RATS !! tell me about them, saw one when I flooded the ground hog den

[abluechipstock]

i've had rats climb right into the pens with hens and their chicks and carry the chicks out, i'd go into rat killing mode, my dogs are good at killing them,

so is a big wooden stick, the problem is when you see a rat there's already others, i put out poison also, just be absolutely sure your chickens and other pets can't get into it

 

[Indiana hens]

Neighbor told me that bread attracts rats. I think so now. I used the ground squirel traps that you stick in the entrance and it squishes them between 2 metal prongs. I tried: water, smoke,bait sticks in a cardboard box with handle holes pre-cut in it, old-style snap traps, new plastic snap traps, pitchfork, shovel, lime,gravel, glass and the ground squirel traps are the only ones to work. Our cat is a good mouser but won't get near a rat. Some dogs will.

 

[sandypaws]

i use a live trap.. wont hurt the chickens.. AND if something else gets in the trap (bird, native rodents ect) you can safely let them go... if you catch a big ol' gross rat.. have a deep bucket of water ready, throw the trap in, they drown in about 5 minutes or less....

or get a rat killing dog.. like a terrier, and train it to get the rodents.
or get a barn cat..

i NEVER EVER use poison of ANY kind around my house.. i love my pets to much to put them in danger like that...